Boerboel ~ South African Mastiff
Information & FAQ's

The Boerboel is a fierce guard dog with a calm and dignified demeanor. They were bred to be powerful defenders and are capable of distinguishing friend from foe. These big dogs can be very cuddly and can also be used as therapy dogs. They’re not the right fit for every home. The Boerboel breed can be some what challenging for a first-time dog owners or people who aren’t familiar with large powerful dog breeds. Make sure you’re ready, do your research before purchasing this large, determined dog before adding one to your family or farm.

Boerboels are a giant breed of dog that are normally born in litter sizes of between 7 to 10 puppies. This large litter size is due to their mother’s large size. You can expect to pay between $1,500 to $2,000 for a Boerboel puppy. They normally mature around 18 to 24 months of age, by which time they should be fully trained and socialized to prevent issues in their adult life.

History: The Boerboel’s name derives from the word “boer” which means “farmer”, so it is not difficult to guess what these dog’s were originally used for. It is unclear where the Boerboel originated from, but it is thought that the breed was chiefly developed by the Dutch and other European settlers arriving in South Africa during the 1600s to guard their homestead. They brought with them their mastiff-type and bulldog-type breeds, which ultimately interbred with other breeds to give rise to the modern Boerboel of today. A giant breed, these pups were originally bred to be guardians and protectors, although nowadays are also known for being pets and companions.

The name Boerboel derives from the Afrikaans words boer, meaning farmer, and boel, a shortening of Boelhond, meaning bulldog. The Boerboel descends from an old colonial cross-breed of mastiffs and bulldogs used both as a guard dog on remote farms and estates and for big game hunting, and known as the Boer Dog or Boer Hunting Dog. An account from 1909 describes this cross-breed as the best dog for hunting leopards and baboons in packs; a leopard with a leg caught in a trap can be killed by a pack of them. The Standard Encyclopaedia of Southern Africa describes the Boer Mastiff as an excellent fighter; one killed leopards in four single combats over a number of years, but was killed by a fifth.

Breeding of the Boerboel began in the 1950s. A breed association, the Suid-Afrikaanse Boerboel Telersvereniging or South African Boerboel Breeders Association, was established in 1983. A new association, the South African Boerboel Breeders' Society, was formed in 2012 and registered with the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries in 2014.

These dogs, in a pack, are capable of running off lions, leopards, and baboons from their property. They are alert, powerful, and courageous. And they wouldn’t back down from a threat. Today’s Boerboel still retains those characteristics. But it also tends to be gentle and friendly with its family. Although it's popularity is growing, it still remains fairly uncommon in North America.

Fun Facts: Boerboels are the only South African dog breed created to defend homesteads. American anthropologist Carl Semencic is credited with introducing boerboels to purebred enthusiasts worldwide in his 1998 book "Gladiator Dogs". A dog named Bilo was the first Boerboel to participate in the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show, in 2016. The Boerboel was first recognized by the American Kennel Club (AKC) as a working breed in 2015.

Personality and Temperament: At home, Boerboels are generally calm. Their gentle demeanor makes them suitable in families with children who understand how to interact with large dogs, but Boerboels may be best in homes without smaller children who could be easily harmed by an accidental bump or squish from this enormous dog. South African Boerboels also tend to do well with other pets when they have been raised in the same household together.

Behavior: Potential Boerboel owners must also consider this breed’s sheer size. Because they can reach 200 pounds, these large dogs require a lot of food and space. They won’t do well crammed into a small apartment all day, and prefer to have a fenced yard where they can sniff and roam. Despite their docile nature at home, Boerboels are quite agile for a Mastiff-type dog, and need to be kept physically and mentally stimulated. Their needs can be met with daily long walks or playtime in a fenced yard. If their physical and mental needs are not met, they can become destructive and have been known to chew on things you wish they had not.

Boerboels tend to be home orientated guarding the homestead, animals and family. They are not prey drive orientated seeking and chasing after threats not on the property. They guard and protect the property scouting for any threats that may come in. They don't go looking for trouble. They wait for the trouble to come to them, then take care of the business at hand.

Characteristics of Boerboels

Size: The boerboel typically has a confident temperament but is also affectionate with its family. It can even be good around kids, but it’s often wary of other dogs and strangers. Highly intelligence, sometimes with a stubborn streak, also helps to shape this dog’s personality. Boerboels are big dogs! Males tend to be slightly larger than the females. Males are, on average, from 24 to 27 inches tall at the shoulder. Females reach an average of 22 to 25 inches. Both sexes fall into a similar healthy weight range. These dogs may weigh anywhere between 140 to 200 pounds. Make sure to talk to your veterinarian if you have any concerns that your dog may be underweight or overweight.

Body shape: Boerboels have an intimidating look with their large and highly muscled bodies. They have deep chests that extend to their elbows. Their legs have large strong bones and end with large rounded and webbed paws. They are good swimmers. Their heads are distinct; blocky, broad, and square. Their muzzles are also broad and narrow slightly toward the nose. Their heads are topped by v-shaped ears that are somewhat leathery and are held close to the head. Tails are traditionally cropped to prevent Baboons from having something to grip during a fight. However they have better balance with a full length tail. A full length wagging tail can knock objects off of low tables. Boerboels show excitement and affection by tail wagging so you don’t want them just in front of you slapping their tail, powerfully, against your leg.

Coat Color:Boerboels can be Brindle, brown, cream, red, reddish brown, or tawny with/without white markings, black mask, piebald, and/or Irish marked

Bite Force: The Boerboel is a large, mastiff-type dog breed from South Africa that is bred for the purpose of guarding the homestead and working the farm protecting its family and livestock. They have one of the most powerful dog breeds in the world and have an estimated bite force around 800 PSI. For comparison a Pitbull’s bite force is about 210 PSI.

Health Problems: The boerboel is overall a very healthy breed, but it is prone to some hereditary health issues such as hip dysplasia, elbow dysplasia, heart disease, ectropion and Entropion.

Lifespan: The Boerboel lifespan is typical of other large size dog breeds. They live an average of 10-12 years. You should prepare for about a decade with your dog if you choose to bring one home as a Boerboel puppy.

Boerboel Care

This large dog breed needs space to self exercise every day or take long walks with it's owner. Put 2 Boerboes in a fenced yard and they will play/exercise together most of the day. Boerboel grooming needs are fairly simple. A monthy bath and a little brushing. Its also very important to have early and consistent training and socialization for having a well-mannered Boerboel.

Diet and Nutrition: Always have fresh water accessible for your Boerboels. And feed them a quality grain free canine diet with balanced nutrition, typically two meals per day. Discuss the types of food and the amount with your vet. You might need to adjust their diet based on factors such as age, activity level, and more. Also, be mindful of how many treats and other extra food. Regularly monitor your dog’s weight. Large breed dogs in particular should stay at a healthy weight to avoid putting added stress on their joints.

Exercise: Plan to spend at least an hour exercising your Boerboel every day. Long walks, jogging, hiking, and vigorous playtime all are ideal ways to get some of your dog’s energy out. Puzzle type toys can also present mental invigorating challenges for this intelligent dog breed. Be sure never to let your Boerboel off leash unless it’s in a securely fenced area outside. This dog may become aggressive around strangers and other dogs if not fulley socialized. This s why it’s often not a good breed to take to the dog park until compleatly trained and socialized.

Grooming: The Boerboel does not have high grooming needs due to their short coat. Start grooming your Boerboel from a young age. This will help them to understand there is nothing to be afraid of! The Boerboel's short, dense coat only sheds moderate. Weekly brushing reduces the shedding. A Boerboel typically only requires basic grooming. Brush it weekly with a soft-bristle brush or grooming mitt to remove any loose fur and distribute skin oils. Expect periods of higher shedding often in the spring and fall, during which you’ll have to increase brushing to keep up with the loose fur. Bathe your dog every month or so, depending on how dirty it gets. Also check whether its ears need cleaning at least monthly. Trim its nails roughly every month or two as needed

Brushing your Boerboel’s teeth daily is important to help prevent dental decay and disease. If this is too difficult, then you can always use dental chew sticks.

Eye Care: Boerboels are not typically prone to eye issues, with the exception of ectropion and entropion. They may however require routine cleaning around the eyes to help prevent tear stains and infection.

Ear Care: Routine cleaning with a vet approved ear cleanser is important to keep your Boerboel’s ear canals healthy. This should also be done any time your dog is in water, such as after swimming or bathing.

Training: Training is extremely important for the Boerboel. This is not because they are an aggressive dog, but because of their large size and power, when not trained properly, then can be dangerous out in public if not under any control. The Boerboel responds best to positive reinforcement training and reward based training. This includes verbal praise and treats. You should never get angry or frustrated with your Boerboel when training. They may not understand what is happening and this will cause them to not want to learn. You should ignore some negative behavior and praise positive behavior so they learn which is more desirable.

The Boerboel’s docile and gentle demeanor makes this breed a loyal, lovable companion, but they need early socialization to help them learn that new people, other animals, and situations are not scary or threatening. A home with experienced pet owners who will dedicate themselves to socializing and training their Boerboel puppy is a must for this breed. Start training and socializing your Boerboel when it’s a puppy to instill good behavior habbits. A full-size untrained Boerboel with poor manners can be extremely difficult to handle. This intelligent breed typically learns quickly and responds well to positive-reinforcement training methods, such as treats and praise. But it can be stubborn and independent at times. So it’s essential that you are consistent with your commands and don’t let bad behaviors slide. When Boerboel puppies are regularly exposed to different people, other dogs, and various locations, their protective instinct might be able to be somewhat muted. Having lots of positive experiences around strangers and other anamials is key. But they likely will always have some degree of wariness around strangers especially if you do. They want to protect and serve their family.

Boerboel FAQ’s

How much does a Boerboel cost?: A Boerboel puppy can set you back between $1500 and $2000. This high price tag means that these dogs have less chance of getting into the wrong hands, and therefore there are less Boerboel rescues. You should always make sure you are buying from a reputable Boerboel breeder. However, if this is out of your price range, always check your local shelter, there might be a Boerboel waiting for their forever home!

Are Boerboels Aggressive?: The Boerboel is not aggressive. Often, these dogs may look aggressive because of their giant size and their powerful jaw, but really they are very friendly! Of course, these dogs must be socialized and trained properly from a young age so they learn that there are no threats, but the Boerboel loves people and is very loyal, so you do not need to worry about them being aggressive.

Summary: The Boerboel is a giant breed of dog that makes an excellent guard dog or companion. These loyal working dogs love people, especially their families, and do not like to be left alone for long peirods of time. With the right training and early socialization they can make the perfect family pet, joining in as an exercise buddy and making a great playmate for children. They’re also known to be a lazy dog, happily relaxing as long as you are nearby. Although they eat a lot and require a lot of activity, the Boerboel is certainly worth it. Do you think this dog could be right for you? If so, call us to arrange a visit to see our adorable Boerboels first hand.